Unemployment Rates Rising In 75% Of State Metro Areas

One step forward, two steps back.

Of Arkansas’ eight metro areas, only Memphis-West Memphis saw a jobless rate (9.4%) decline in December. The Texarkana (Arkansas-Texas) metro area jobless rate was unchanged at 7.1%, according to figures released Wednesday (Feb. 2) by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The lowest metro rate in the state was northwest Arkansas at 6.2%. The highest metro rate was 9.8% in Pine Bluff.

During the past three months, Arkansas’ metro area jobless rates have fluctuated between good, bad and ugly.

In October 2010, seven of the eight metro regions saw improving year-over-year jobless rates. In November, that trend reversed dramatically as seven of eight areas saw declining or unchanged conditions from the previous year.

December’s negative news capped off a year of slightly rising state unemployment that saw a level nearing 8%.

Arkansas’ December 2010 unemployment rate was 7.9%, unchanged from 7.9% in November 2010 and up from 7.6% in December 2009. The jobless has risen three-tenths of a percent since January 2010 when it stood at 7.6%.

The U.S. unemployment rate in December was 9.4%, down from 9.8% in November and down from 9.9% in December 2009.

ARKANSAS METRO AREAS
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Dec. 2010: 6.2%
Dec. 2009: 5.9%
Nov. 2010: 5.8%

Fort Smith
Dec. 2010: 8.6%
Dec. 2009: 8.2%
Nov. 2010: 7.9%

Hot Springs
Dec. 2010: 8%
Dec. 2009: 7.6%
Nov. 2010: 7.5%

Jonesboro
Dec. 2010: 7.4%
Dec. 2009: 7.1%
Nov. 2010: 6.9%

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Dec. 2010: 6.9%
Dec. 2009: 6.5%
Nov. 2010: 6.6%

Memphis-West Memphis
Dec. 2010: 9.4%
Dec. 2009: 10.4%
Nov. 2010: 9.7%

Pine Bluff
Dec. 2010: 9.8%
Dec. 2009: 9.5%
Nov. 2010: 9.2%

Texarkana
Dec. 2010: 7.1%
Dec. 2009: 6.7%
Nov. 2010: 7.1%